Either voluntarily or by enforcement, we call on Deschutes County to honor that covenant by ending its practice of spot zoning.

Originally published as a Guest Column in the Bend Bulletin on 08/27/2025.

LandWatch’s Rural Lands team recently won a case challenging Deschutes County’s decision to rezone 65 acres of irrigated farmland before Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA).

Recently, we saw a fiery online debate about farm stands, agritourism, and DLCD Farm Stand rulemaking process. If you witnessed or participated in the recent dialogue but had a nagging feeling that you weren’t being told the whole story, this blog post is for you.

Oregon’s 2025 legislative session is heading into its final weeks, and LandWatch is proud to report that it’s shaping up to be a good year for us in Salem.

Wildfire is essential in our landscape, and an expected element of living, working, and playing in Central Oregon. As we plan for the future, we must learn to coexist with fire.

On May 7, 2025, Thornburgh’s troubled attempt to revise its Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan will come before the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners again.

When a data center came knocking, Christmas Valley farmers weren’t interested. Read on for the backstory on a significant win for Christmas Valley and Lake County, and an update on an ongoing challenge to preserve agricultural land in Jefferson County.

In the first month of the new administration, environmental advocates have faced a maelstrom of threats to the foundations of environmental protection and community well-being. 

At LandWatch, we are determined to stay focused on the positive changes we can affect. We are here to defend the land and water of Central Oregon and ensure a livable future for all its residents — and we won’t settle for anything less.

Oregon’s land use planning system is hailed as a model for preserving its unique agricultural and forest landscapes while fostering sustainable growth.

Despite this, a troubling trend has emerged in recent years: spot zoning of farm and forest lands.

Central Oregon’s rural lands offer iconic scenic vistas, sustain complex high desert ecosystems, and enable a thriving regional agricultural economy.

When you stock up on local food, you’ll enjoy fresher, seasonal food with greater nutritional value.

Bonus: You get shorter transportation distances and a stronger local economy, too!

On January 24, the Oregon Court of Appeals affirmed LandWatch’s and co-petitioners’ win at the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) concerning Deschutes County’s attempt to rezone 710 acres of farmland for sprawling luxury development.

LandWatch prevailed at Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeal in appeals of Deschutes County’s decision to approve Thornburgh Resort’s Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan (FWMP).

A comforting winter recipe that features ingredients that can be locally sourced in Central Oregon. It is also incredibly flexible and can be made vegetarian, dairy-free or gluten-free.

What do we want Deschutes County to look like in 20 years? The County is asking for your input on its draft update to the Comprehensive Plan.

Recently, LandWatch prevailed in a community effort to halt yet another instance of development interests seeking to convert agricultural land into rural sprawl.

On August 9, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) reversed their approval of LandWatch’s proposed amendments to the county code that would have limited new, luxury destination resorts in Deschutes County.

Oregon’s Land Use Board of Appeals ruled in favor of LandWatch’s appeal of Deschutes County’s controversial decision to approve a developer’s application to rezone 710 acres of agricultural land in Lower Bridge Valley.

On July 25, the Oregon Water Resources Department issued an order proposing denial of water rights requested by the developers of Thornburgh Resort.

Will you support our application to limit large-scale, luxury resort development in Deschutes County?